PSA: “The Real Truth about Seattle School Assignments”

How many parents out there have been forwarded that recent email: “The Real Truth about Seattle School Assignments?” I’ve gotten it on two fronts, so I trust it’s making the rounds. Apparently, there’s been some of that pesky “Non-Real Truth,” a.k.a. Misinformation, floating around out there, and thanks to this software guru mom, I now know not to second-guess the way I rank the Bungle of Joy‘s school preferences four years from now when she enters the hallowed halls of learning. Course, by then who knows what the Real Truth will be…

For interested parents out there, I thought I’d pass on the gist of the findings. For non-parents, or parents who don’t give a hoot, see ya tomorrow.

Okay all you interested parents, here’s what Elizabeth Sanders did, and I quote:

I decided to cut through all the confusion and go straight to the source–the computer software source code for the program that actually processes the applications and makes the assignments, creates the wait lists, etc. In the end, the software itself is absolutely the most authoritative possible description of how the process works.

The key point of what she found sounds complex but is really pretty simple:

There is no harm in listing long-shot schools. I can’t emphasize that enough, because a lot of people (including some misinformed school district employees) will tell you exactly the opposite. But really, if you list 6 schools that you have a less than 1% chance of getting into, and then school X, you have no less of a chance of getting into school X than if you listed school X first (unless of course you get into one of the long shots, which presumably would be what you want).

She uses the rest of the email to clarify the above point (which is helpful because it appears the confusion can crop up lots of different ways). And she says she stands by what she’s found “with conviction,” and with her “reputation as a professional software engineer on the line.”

Now, I don’t know Elizabeth from Adam, and cyber space can be creepy space, but it seems credible to me, which is why I’m posting it here. Let me know if this Real Truth turns out to be some twisted Urban Myth.

Okay, public service announcement over. Class is dismissed.

Happily even after,janna
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